A termite infestation can be devastating for your Florida home. These silent destroyers will eat wooden structures from the inside out, causing considerable damage and thousands of dollars in repairs. In Florida, termite activity can be seen as early as February, starting with swarmers looking for a place to start their new colony. The best way to avoid a termite infestation at your home is to lookout for the signs of these swarming termites and place termite preventative measures throughout your property.
Identifying Termite Swarms
Often, flying ants can be mistaken for a winged termite causing confusion for homeowners. While ants have a lot in common with termites, they are both very different species. Luckily, there are various indicators to help identify a termite swarmer. Swarming termites have:
- A streamlined body without the pinched waist
- Straight and bead-like antennae shape
- Wings equal in length and extend past the abdomen
Signs of Termite Swarms
Termites can often go unnoticed and destroy homes without the resident even knowing, so it’s important to lookout for termite swarms in your area. Termite swarms are the earliest and most noticeable sign that you may have termites. You can often see these swarms near light and can be seen flying around street and house lights at night. On your property, if you’ve noticed discarded wings on windowsills or doors, this is a major sign that swarming termites could start a colony in your home.
Termite Prevention Tips for Florida Homeowners
Preventing termite damage starts with proactive termite control. Check out these tips and tricks to help prevent termites from your property:
- Reduce the moisture throughout your home by ensuring you have proper ventilation and fixing any leaks.
- Avoid direct wood-to-soil contact in and around your home and remove any dead trees or stumps from your yard.
- If you have a crawlspace, consider enclosing it to eliminate moisture under your home.
- Schedule an annual termite inspection and request a quote on treatment options, including the Sentricon Always Active bait stations, drywood preventative treatments, and more!
If you’ve noticed swarming termites in the Crawfordville area or would like to get ahead of your termite prevention, call a Florida pest control company near you for a free inspection! Termite professionals will provide you with a thorough inspection and recommendations on a treatment and prevention plan to avoid termite infestations in the future.
